The Children Community Care Point Programme, which has been set up to ensure that disadvantaged children would be able to access the care and support needed for them to have a healthy, happy life, was launched in Region Five on Thursday.
At a one-day workshop at the regional boardroom, Fort Wellington, a group of females and a few males including teachers, police officers and voluntary counsellors were trained on how to assess what care is needed for a child and where to refer them for help. The programme was launched by the Ministry of Labour, Human Social Services & Social Security in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council with the aim of mobilizing “regional personnel to partner with service providers for programmes pertaining to orphans and vulnerable children.”
Deputy Chief Probation Officer Arnold Mickle told Stabroek News that “the idea is to have disadvantaged children cared for by a group of people” who can direct them to have the services that their caregivers fail to provide.
He said some of the children may be deprived of their rights to proper food and nutrition, shelter, protection and health care services, psychosocial support and education.
He said when the children are “referred to the group, members would process the children to see what is best the practice or care that they require.”
Mickle said that other groups have also been launched in Regions Three, Four, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten and that they are working closely with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Sandra Hooper, UNICEF Consultant who was also a facilitator at the workshop reiterated that the programme would assist orphans and vulnerable children.
Regional chairman, Harrinarine Baldeo remarked that there is a need for children to be treated “humanely” and he hoped that the programme would help them to get better lives.
The workshop was conducted by Senior Probation & Welfare Officer of the region Dollette Nicholson.
